• Over 10 billion pounds worth of clothes languishing in British women’s wardrobes
• 80% of women have fashion items they haven’t worn in the past year
• 35% of women forget clothes in their wardrobes
• 32% of women have stopped wearing clothes as often because they have put on weight

Based on recent research, there could be up to 10 billion pounds worth of clothes lying unloved and unworn in British women’s wardrobes, left over from shopping sprees and Saturday afternoons on Britain’s high streets. A survey* released today by luxury resale clothing site VestiaireCollective.com has found that the average British woman has over £1900 worth of clothes, handbags and accessories in her wardrobe.

The survey, commissioned by YouGov, also found that 80% of women have items lurking that haven’t been worn for over a year. With the average woman having not worn 21% of the fashion items they own in the last year, VestiaireCollective.com estimates that this could mean that £10.1 billion pounds worth of fashion lying paid for but unworn in women’s wardrobes.

The survey of over 1000 women found that over one in three women (35%) had actually just forgotten about the clothes in their wardrobe, suggesting that there are some women with a few too many items nestling in the darkest recesses of their closet. Thirty two per cent of women had also stopped wearing their clothes as often because they had put on weight since buying them, with their growing waistlines accounting for smaller sizes being left to hang. Surprisingly, 26% of women stated that they don’t wear certain items more often because they are the wrong size or fit for them.

The average value of a woman’s wardrobe was £1909, the value of the contents rising with age; 18-24 year olds typically having wardrobes worth £1495, and the 55 and overs with £2,232 worth of items.

Fanny Moizant, UK Managing Director and Co-Founder of Vestiaire Collective believe that women should clear and recycle their clothing. She says: “It is sad to see so many once loved items lying unworn in women’s wardrobes. Clean and well-kept branded items will sell in a few days and will give the seller extra money to spend on something that won’t be forgotten or will actually fit. Vestiaire Collective has made it easy for pre-loved fashion to be given a new life and sold on, which can net sellers a sizeable profit in the cash-strapped few months of the New Year.”

Fanny continues:

“And the good news for British women is that this year many of our global shoppers have asked for more British high street, heritage and luxury brands to be sold on the site. With the average clothing item starting from £40 on the site, we’re encouraging everyone to de-clutter and make space in their wardrobes this year.”

* *Calculation by Vestiaire Collective: £1909.92 (average worth of wardrobe) x 21.17% (average amount of clothes not worn in the last year) = £404.43 (value of unworn clothes) x 25,074,877 (women in Great Britain) = £10,138,526,622

* All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc.  Total sample size was 2,046 adults (1,053 female adults). Fieldwork was undertaken between 13th – 16th December 2013.  The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).